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importing.com.au

7 min read · Updated October 2026

Illustration for the guide: Importing from the USA

Key takeaways

  • AUSFTA can zero the duty line for genuine US-origin goods — but you must hold origin evidence; a US shipping address proves nothing.
  • GST of 10% on VoTI applies regardless of AUSFTA, and the US is a BMSB target risk country in season.
  • US marks (UL, FCC, FDA) are not Australian approvals — RCM, EESS and TGA rules apply before you can sell.

Importing from the USA

The US is Australia's largest source of machinery, vehicle parts, supplements and specialist equipment — and it comes with a genuine tax advantage most importers underuse: the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). But US origin also brings its own traps: different product standards, USD exchange risk, and BMSB seasonal measures.

AUSFTA: the duty advantage

Eligible US-origin goods can enter at reduced or zero customs duty under AUSFTA. The critical word is origin:

  • Goods qualify by being wholly obtained or substantially produced in the US under the agreement's product-specific rules of origin — not merely because a US seller shipped them.
  • You claim the preference in the import declaration and must hold origin evidence (supplier/producer declaration, production records) in case the ABF asks.
  • AUSFTA affects duty only. GST of 10% on the VoTI still applies, as do biosecurity conditions.

Check the product-specific rule for your tariff line before ordering — see the free trade agreements guide for how claims work in practice.

The baseline border rules still apply

  • Over AUD 1,000 customs value → full Import Declaration via the ICS (see the import declarations guide); at or under $1,000 → Self-Assessed Clearance with no duty/GST at the border.
  • GST is 10% of the VoTI (customs value + duty + international freight & insurance) regardless of AUSFTA — run it in the landed cost calculator.
  • Budget the fixed government charges: Import Processing Charge ($50 or $152 electronically) plus the $48 air / $71 sea biosecurity charge — tables in the import charges guide.

Biosecurity: the US is a BMSB target risk country

  • During BMSB season (shipped on board 1 September – 30 April), target high risk goods from the US — machinery (84/85), vehicles & parts (87), metals, wood articles — require mandatory treatment by an approved provider. Full rules: BMSB season guide and checker tool.
  • Air freight from the US is subject to random BMSB inspections but no mandatory treatment.
  • Timber pallets and crating must carry ISPM 15 marks; used machinery must arrive spotlessly clean of soil.
  • Food, supplements, plant and animal products need BICON conditions checked per product — US regulatory approval (FDA, USDA) means nothing at the Australian border.

US standards ≠ Australian standards

This is the most expensive assumption first-time US importers make:

Product US regime Australian requirement
Electrical goods UL/FCC voluntary-ish marks RCM mandatory; high-risk items need EESS registration
Wireless devices FCC certification ACMA RCM + radiocomms rules
Supplements/cosmetics FDA (light-touch for supplements) TGA ARTG listing if therapeutic claims; AICIS for cosmetics
Vehicles FMVSS/EPA RAV entry + Australian Design Rules compliance

Details by category: electronics, cosmetics & supplements, vehicles, and the product compliance guide.

Freight and logistics from the US

  • Sea: West Coast ports (LA/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle) to Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane — typically 18–30 days port-to-port plus clearance. East Coast cargo often tranships via Asia, adding a week or more.
  • Air: 3–7 days into Sydney/Melbourne; the default for samples, urgent parts and high-value electronics.
  • Courier (DHL/FedEx/UPS): door-to-door under ~$1,000 consignments; their brokerage is built in but their disbursement fees can sting.
  • Insurance & Incoterms: agree who arranges freight, insurance and clearance — the freight & Incoterms guide walks through FOB vs CIF vs DDP.

US-specific practicalities

  • Currency: invoice and pay in USD; the ABF converts at its own rate on the clearance date — build an FX buffer into your landed cost.
  • US sales tax never applies to exports, and Australian GST is not charged at US checkout for B2B shipments — GST lands at the border on the VoTI.
  • Documents: commercial invoice with specific descriptions ("stainless steel kitchen sink", not "hardware"), packing list matching the invoice, origin evidence for AUSFTA claims, treatment certificates where BMSB applies, and any permits before goods ship.
  • Delays cost real money — demurrage and port storage accrue when documents arrive late or biosecurity holds the box. Pre-lodge paperwork before the vessel berths.

Sourcing from Asia as well? Compare with the importing from China guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is there duty on goods imported from the USA to Australia?

Often zero. Under the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement, eligible US-origin goods receive reduced or zero customs duty. The goods must meet AUSFTA rules of origin — being shipped from a US seller is not enough — and you must hold origin evidence. GST of 10% on the VoTI applies regardless.

Do US goods need BMSB treatment?

During the seasonal window (shipped on board 1 September – 30 April), target high risk goods from the US — machinery, vehicles, metals, wood articles — require mandatory treatment by a DAFF-approved provider. Air freight from the US faces random inspections only, and other goods are generally unaffected unless packed with targeted cargo.

Can I sell US-market products in Australia as-is?

Usually not without checking standards. Electrical goods need the RCM (not UL/FCC), high-risk equipment needs EESS registration, supplements making health claims need TGA ARTG listing, and vehicles need RAV entry and ADR compliance. US regulatory marks carry no weight under Australian law.